Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is an established technique used in clinical and research settings to evaluate total and regional fat. Additionally, recently developed software allow to quantify visceral adipose tissue (VAT). Currently, there are no reference values available for GE Healthcare DXA systems for VAT. The aim of this study was to develop reference values for VAT in healthy European adults aged 20–30 years using a GE Healthcare Prodigy densitometer along with the dedicated CoreScan application. We also assessed the associations of VAT with traditional cardiometabolic risk factors. In 421 participants (207 men; 214 women), we performed DXA whole-body scans and calculated total body fat (BF) and VAT (in gender-specific percentiles). We also measured blood pressure and fasting glucose, insulin, and blood lipids. Males, in comparison with females, had 2-fold greater VAT both in units of mass (542 ± 451 g; 95% CI: 479.6‒605.1 g vs. 258 ± 226 g; 95% CI: 226.9‒288.6 g) and volume (570 ± 468 cm3; 95% CI: 505.1‒635.2 cm3 vs. 273 ± 237 cm3; 95% CI: 240.6‒305.3 cm3). They also had significantly higher the VAT/BF ratio. VAT showed a stronger positive correlation than BF with blood pressure, triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol, glucose, insulin, and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance index and a stronger negative correlation with HDL-cholesterol. Among these variables, VAT had the highest area under the curve for triglycerides ≥150 mg/dL (0.727 in males and 0.712 in females). In conclusion, we provide reference values for VAT obtained from healthy adults using the GE Healthcare DXA. These values may be useful in the diagnosis of visceral obesity, for identifying subjects with high obesity-related risks, in epidemiological studies, as a target for therapies, and in physically trained individuals. In both genders, VAT was associated with traditional cardiometabolic risk factors, particularly hypertriglyceridemia.

The association between fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) and spontaneous cervical artery dissection (SCeAD) has been recognized, but the available evidence on this relationship is scant. Therefore, the main goal of our study was to systematically evaluate FMD frequency, clinical characteristics and vascular bed involvement in patients with SCeAD. Among 230 patients referred to the ARCADIA-POL study, 43 patients (mean age 44.1 ± 8.9 years; 15 men and 28 women) with SCeAD were referred. Also, 135 patients with FMD were compared to patients with and without SCeAD. Patients underwent: ambulatory blood pressure measurements, biochemical evaluation, echocardiographic examination, and whole body computed tomographic angiography. FMD changes were found in 39.5% of patients with SCeAD. There were no differences in clinical characteristics between patients with SCeAD and FMD and those without FMD, except for a tendency towards a higher female ratio in SCeAD patients with FMD. There were no differences in other parameters describing target organ and SCeAD characteristics. Patients with SCeAD and FMD compared to those without SCeAD were characterized by a lower frequency of hypertension and a higher frequency of hyperlipidemia and history of contraceptive hormone use. Our study indicates a high incidence (39.5%) of FMD in subjects with SCeAD. Since there are no distinctive discriminating factors between patients with SCeAD and FMD and those without FMD, FMD should be suspected in all patients with SCeAD.

Introduction. The metabolic syndrome is defined on the basis of a cluster of coexisting metabolic deteriorations, which increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Earlier studies suggested a role of adipokines and proinflammatory cytokines in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome-induced complications. Some clinical studies reported the association of hypoadiponectinemia with cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, hypertension and dyslipidemia. Decreased adiponectin has been proposed as a useful biomarker of the metabolic syndrome. The aim of the study was to compare serum adiponectin levels in patients with primary hypertension with and without coexisting metabolic syndrome. Material and methods. The study group comprised 145 patients aged 18-50 years with primary hypertension. On the basis of IDF diagnostic criteria, all patients were categorized in groups with (HTMS; n = 73) and without (HTC; n = 72) metabolic syndrome. Study protocol included anthropometric measurements including waist circumference, 24 hour blood pressure measurement, serum levels of adiponectin, uric acid, lipids, insulin and glucose, and assessment of insulin resistance using HOMA-IR index. Results. The plasma levels of adiponectin were significantly lower in the subjects with hypertension and metabolic syndrome as compared with those without the MS (4.2 ± 3.1 μg/dL vs. 6.7 ± 6.5 μg/dL, p = 0.0026). In all patients with hypertension, adiponectin negatively correlated with insulin (r = −0.20; p = 0.014), HOMA-IR (r = −0.24; p = 0.003), triglycerides (r = −0.19; p = 0.025), uric acid (r = −0.25; p = 0.003) and positively with HDL-cholesterol (r = 0.33; p = 0.0001). In the ROC curve analysis, the cutoff value predicting metabolic syndrome in patients with hypertension was 4.1 μg/mL for adiponectin. Conclusions. In conclusion, low adiponectin levels should be taken into account as a potential non-classical biomarker of metabolic complications in patients with primary hypertension, not only with concomitant metabolic syndrome.

Approximately 5-6.5% of adrenal incidentalomas are pheochromocytomas, and 8% of the patients with a pheochromocytoma are completely asymptomatic. Marker-negative pheochromocytomas represent a small group of rare tumours, yet rarely reported in the current medical literature. In the current study presents a case of 49-year old patient with hypertension, caused by biochemically silent pheochromocytoma and the potential medical complications, which can be particularly dangerous in cases of misdiagnosed, non-functional tumours.

Streszczenie Wstęp. Nadciśnienie tętnicze (HTN) jest częstą przyczyną rozwoju zaburzeń czynności poznawczych. Aktualne dane podkreślają rolę HTN w niekorzystnej przebudowie naczyń i promowaniu zmian w obrębie mikrokrążenia mózgowego, prowadzących do upośledzenia funkcji poznawczych. W prezentowanym badaniu szukaliśmy związku między dobową zmiennością ciśnienia tętniczego (BPV) z wykorzystaniem 24-h ambulatoryjnego monitorowania ciśnienia tętniczego (ABPM) a zaburzeniami funkcji poznawczych u pacjentów w średnim wieku obciążonych nadciśnieniem tętniczym.